South African Tourism returns to IMEX Las America to invite the world to come host business events in South Africa

LLas Vegas: USA: Team South Africa is in Las Vegas this week for IMEX America, the largest trade show in the US for the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) has partnered with 20 South African exhibitors from various provinces, who will be showcasing a variety of quality assured business events products to the world.

Taking place from 17 to 19 October 2023 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, IMEX America provides South Africa with an opportunity to communicate to the global community that South Africa has quality-assured business events venues and facilities as well as infrastructure to host events of various types and sizes.

Speaking at the start of IMEX America, Zinhle Nzama, Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer at SANCB said, “We are excited to be back, and are looking forward to interacting with various partners who continue to choose to do business with South Africa and entice those partners that are not yet aware of our efficient offerings . “According to Allied Market Research, the South African business events sector’s contribution to South Africa’s economy was estimated at about 77 billion rands for 2022.”

“The US market has shown considerable growth especially coming out of the pandemic, with an estimated 8,3 billion rands contributed to SA’s economy. Year to date, the US is the biggest contributor of arrivals outside of the Africa region which was also the case in 2021.

Key to South African Tourism’s participation at IMEX America is providing global market access to business events products that operate in South Africa to exhibit at the South African National Convention stand whilst ensuring valuable connection with potential investors in order to grow their businesses and contribute to the country’s GDP.

“We brought some of our best destination management companies and convention bureaus to showcase and represent the variety of venues and facilities that our country has to offer. Exhibitors include; Westin Hotel Cape Town, Wilderness, Africa by Design, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Southern Sun hotel group, Sandton Convention Centre, Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, Durban International Convention Centre, Dragonfly Africa & Green Route Africa, Fancourt, Century City Conference Centre & Hotels, andBeyond, Virgin Limited Edition, Bushtracks, Globe Travel and Tours, Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Sandown Tours & Incentives, Sun International, Unique Bureau Speaker International.”

“The Netball World Cup which was successfully hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre is one example of how we transform our venues to best cater for events of various needs and audiences. We are here on the ground to reassure the global MICE industry that South Africa is very much open for business and that hosting meetings and events in South Africa is guaranteed to create a memorable event ,” she said. Page 2 of 2

“Similarly, we are also here to invite the world to our beautiful country to attend our all-important annual strategic business events trade show, Meetings Africa which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from the 27th to the 28th of February 2024,” Nzama concluded.

Meetings Africa, South African Tourism’s Pan African business events trade provides a valuable platform for exhibitors from varying countries across the African continent, to showcase their business events, products, facilities and venues to local, regional, international and South African buyers. Various association and corporates also participate at Meetings Africa. In 2023, the show attracted 352 exhibitors from over 22 African countries, over 1000 delegates, and 375 buyers from over 60 countries.

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